Bills quick to sign Cowboys castoff for one year, $6.5 million

On Wednesday night, Terrell Owens was told his popcorn act in Dallas had gotten stale. Saturday evening, Owens, wearing a red Buffalo Bills hat, was smiling and talking about popping some new popcorn.

Owens signed a one-year contract worth $6.5 million with the Bills. The deal included a $4 million signing bonus.

The signing of the petulant wide receiver brings the Bills onto the national stage. He leaves Dallas, one of the bigger media markets in the league, for one of the smallest.

"I just have to create my own following up here in North America," Owens said. "I'm leaving America's Team to come to North America's team, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity and I'm excited about it."

When Owens was released by the Cowboys, he lost out on $20.27 million remaining on the final three years of his contract.

Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said his client received a raise for the 2009 season, because he was scheduled to make $5.77 million this season from the Cowboys.

But Owens was scheduled to make $7.5 million in 2010 and $7 million in 2011 under his Cowboys contract, and it remains to be seen if he can make up for those numbers.

"Right now, I'm just focusing on the 2009 season," Owens said. "I feel like I can still play, I can still run, and as long as I'm healthy, I will continue to play."

After the Cowboys released Owens, Rosenhaus said his client would be signed by the end of next week. Instead, he was picked up in two days.

Rosenhaus told ESPN three to four teams were interested in the wide receiver, though he declined to name them.

"Terrell came out about $800,000 north of what he would have made had he stayed in Dallas," Rosenhaus said "So, I guess he can thank the Cowboys organization for releasing him and adding to his bank account."

In a 13-year career, Owens has become one of the NFL's most dynamic players. In 2008, he became the 17th player to record 800 career catches and he's tied for fourth with 141 career touchdowns. Owens is second to Hall of Famer Jerry Rice with 139 career touchdown catches.

Despite the success on the field, Owens has been a controversial figure away from it. He was blamed for locker room fractions in San Francisco and Philadelphia. He was also part of the locker room drama in Dallas the last three seasons. He and the Bills will not face the Cowboys in the 2009 season.

After Owens was cut, Cowboys linebacker Greg Ellis said he didn't agree with the move, and running back Marion Barber said it was unfair to blame Owens for the locker room problems.

"If you look at all of the comments that have come from all of my teammates with the Cowboys, my last three years, it's all been positive," Owens said. "Prior to that, I can't really. ... I don't really want to get into it. I'll let my teammates speak highly, and I think they have done that. They've spoken, and it speaks loudly as to what transpired."

Owens joins a Bills team that finished 25th in total offense and 22nd in passing in the NFL last season.

Quarterback Trent Edwards threw 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season, and top receiver Lee Evans had only three touchdown catches.

Owens is expected to help the Bills improve on those numbers.

"When an opportunity like this arises, you'd better be able to strike quickly," Bills general manager Russ Brandon said. "When we went into our off-season plan, we went in with a vision like we did the last couple of years and how we wanted to make this team better."

As the news conference to announce his signing wrapped up, Owens was asked whether popcorn would remain part of his routine in Buffalo.

"Yeah, get ready," Owens said.